B.Conquest, triumph, and
victory, on the other hand, ignite the soul with passion and
hope.

C.For the faithful child of
God, victory is the ultimate end (Rom. 8:37).

Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved
us.

D.For the next few minutes, we
want to look at some of the concepts that surround the topic of
“Victory.”

I.JESUS
SECURED THE ULTIMATE VICTORY

A.As Jesus approached the
final hours of His life on earth, He knew He had been victorious (John
16:33).

These things
have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.In the world ye shall have
tribulation:but be of good
cheer.I have overcome the
world.

1.Satan had not destroyed Him
at his birth.

2.The devil could not bring
Him to sin in the wilderness.

3.Jesus had constantly shown
His power over darkness through His miraculous works, especially in casting out
demons.

4.Jesus’ words were enticing
to the masses.Multitudes were
drawn toward His holy calling.

B.His death appeared to be
defeat.In humiliation, the Son of
god drew His last breath on the cursed tree and was placed into a tomb of death
and decay.The hadean realm,
however, could not hold Him.Jesus
claimed victory on the third day in fulfillment of the
Scriptures.

1.Satan was destroyed (Heb.
2:14).

Forasmuch then
as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took
part of the same: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil.

2.Satan’s cronies, the
principalities and powers in high places, were also spoiled by the cross (Col.
2:14-15).

Blotting our the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, and having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them
in it.

C.Jesus’ victory is seen to be
complete in the Revelation.He is
pictured as the rider on the white horse.

1.Revelation
6:2

And I saw, and
behold a white horse:and he that
sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him:and he went forth conquering, and to
conquer.

2.In the 19th
chapter of Revelation, this rider is seen again.On His vesture and on His thigh a name
is written (Rev. 19:16).

And he hath on
his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS.

3.In Revelation, all of the
Lord’s enemies are subdued.

a.The beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire burning
with brimstone (Rev. 19:20).

b.The devil, too, is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev.
20:10).

c.Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire (Rev.
20:14).

d.The wicked and evil are also burned in the lake of fire (Rev.
21:8).

4.The holy city is seen as the only thing standing, and its gates are
eternally open (Rev. 21:25).Why?There are no enemies to
threaten the inhabitants any more.

II.MANKIND CAN TAKE
PART IN JESUS’ VICTORY

A.Revelation
21:7

He that
overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my
son.

B.The question is:How do we overcome?How do we become part of the victory
procession?There seems to be four
essentials that make one an overcomer.

1.Three of these things are
found in Revelation 12:11.

And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and
they loved not their lives unto the death.

a.The blood of the Lamb.

1)The shed blood of Christ forgives and redeems.

a)Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace.

b)Hebrews 9:26b

…but now once in
the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself.

2)This blood, however, is only applied conditionally.We must cut off our sins in repentance
and have them forgiven by the blood of Christ in the waters of baptism (Col.
2:11-13).

In whom also ye
are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the
body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:buried with him in baptism, wherein ye
are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
him from the dead.And you, being
dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

3)Even after we have become Christians, the blood of Christ will provide
continual cleansing (I John 1:7).

b.The word of their testimony.

1)The word of God reveals “how” we have access to the saving blood of
Christ.

2)The message of the gospel pricks the heart, produces faith, and promotes
our obedience.Thus, it is the
“power” of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16-17).

c.The sacrifice of self.

1)The ones spoken of in Revelation 12:11, “loved not their lives unto the
death.”

2)We are reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:39.

He that findeth
his life shall lose it:and he that
loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

3)This self sacrifice may not always be unto death, but it always involves
living for Christ completely (II Cor. 5:15).

And that he died
for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but
unto him which died for them, and rose again.

2.The final component needed
to be an overcomer is faith (I John 5:4).

For whatsoever
is born of God overcometh the world:and this is the victory that overcome-th the world, even our
faith.

a.Faith is conviction and trust rooted in the testimony of God’s word that
compels one to obey and serve God.

b.Faith trusts in the blood of Christ and obeys the command to be baptized
in order to be cleansed of sin.

c.Faith hears the word, believes the facts, trusts the promises, and obeys
the commands of God.

d.Faith drives self out and enthrones Christ on the
heart.

III.THE BENEFITS OF
VICTORY

A.Rest from struggle (Rev.
14:13).

And I heard a
voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord from henceforth:Yea,
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do
follow them.

B.Relief from the
enemy.

1.Death is overcome with life
(I Cor. 15:54).

2.The devil is cast into
eternal hell (Rev. 20:10).

3.Tears, sorrow, crying and
pain are passed away (Rev. 21:4).

4.Nothing that defiles, or
worketh abomination, or that maketh a lie will be found in the eternal city
(Rev. 21:27).

C.Reward from the Captain of
our salvation.

1.In the Revelation,
overcomers are promised numerous rewards.

a.Eat of the tree of life (Rev. 2:7).

b.Shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:11).

c.Eat of the hidden manna (Rev. 2:17).

d.Power over the nations (Rev. 2:26).

e.Name not blotted out, but confess before the Father (Rev.
3:5).

f.A pillar in the temple of God (Rev. 3:12).

g.Granted to sit down on God’s throne (Rev. 3:21).

2.Oftentimes, the Bible mentions the “stephanos,” the victory crown that
will be given to the Lord’s faithful (II
Tim. 4:8; I Cor. 9:25; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10).

Henceforth there
is laid up for me a crown of righteouness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day:and not
unto me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing.

CONCLUSION

A.Victory can seem almost
unimaginable.

B.Victory is essential for
eternal life.

C.I
Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.